Rail joint



1. A. LEWIS AND L; L. REW;

RAlL JOINT. APPLICATION men JULY 18 1921.v

Patented June 20, 1922'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Jem zwmZ gwuemto o JESSE A. LEWIS AND LESLIE I4. REW, 01F NIAGARA. FALLS, NEW YORK,

BAIL zronvr.

rai ers.

.Appli,cation filed July 18,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Jesse A. Lewis and LESLIE L. R-nw, citizens of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and "State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in rail joints. a

The primary object of the invention is the an improved connection for to improvements provision of rail joints, in which the rails are yieldably maintained in position with respect to each other, to form a roadway.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a secure and durable splice connection for rail joints, connection between adjacent rails without the use of bolts or screws.

The improved rail joint specifically enlbodies a pair of spliced plates having resilient means for cooperation therewith, to yieldably maintain rails in proper trackway relation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the following detailed description. r K In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this s pecification, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

proved connectingjoint for rails.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional, view taken .on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line '33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 a, perspective view showing several details of the improved rail joint, and their cooperating parts. c

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clamp used in connection with the improved rail joint. j

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred ,embodiment of this invention; the letters A and B designate rails in alignment for use upon a trackway. Splice plates G are used in connection with the abutting ends of the rails A andB for properly positioning the rails A and B with respect to each other; clamps D, and springs E cooperating with the splice plates O to provide a proper rail connection.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"struction, a pair of these which effects the C Patented June 20, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 435,538;

The rails are, of course, of any preferred construction, depending upon the use for which the trackway is provided. In most instances, the rails A and B will be the ordinary standard track rails provided with a foot 10, a wheel engaging head 11; said foot and head being connected by the ordinary ,web construction 12. For use in connection with the improved rail joints, the ra ls A and B are each provided with a slot 13, extending longitudinally of the web 12, and positioned adjacent the ends of the rail a predetermined distancetherefrom. v.

The splice plates G are simple in con- .spl Plat s a each rail joint. The p lates are each provided with a pairof slots 15 and-l6, o'f the'same length a s the slot 13, and having the end edges 17 and 18 of each of the slots 15 and lfi rounded from the inside surface 19 to the outside surface QO of the splice plates ,C, to provide a proper riding surface for the clamps D. Snb stantially rectangular ,lugs 21 and 22 areipm vided upon the exterior face 20 of each of the spliceplates C, said lugs 21 and 22 being positioned adjacent the rounded edges 17 of slots 15 and 16. An intermediate projecting 1ug23 is provided between the rounded edges 18 of the slots 15 and 16. It is preferred, that the top surfaces 24- of each of the projecting lugs '21, 22 and 23 lie in the same plane defined by the bottom surface 25 of each of the slots 15 and16, and which likewise lie in a common plane.

The clamps D are divided into the relatively long clamp members 28, of which two are provided for each rail joint, and adapted for use in connection with, the remote rounded edges 17 of the slots 15 and 16; and the relatively short clamp means 29 of which two are provided foruse upon the rounded being used for edges 18 of the slots 15 and 16; said clamps 29 being positionedintermediate the clamps 8 ro nded Sur a e a Prbvidgd 1 13 each of the springs E,

legs and 15 and 16. A spring retaining projection is preferably formed exteriorly upon the bight portion of each of the clamps 28, and extending oppositely from the legs 30 and 31. This structure, however, need not be strictly adhered to, since depressions or recesses may be provided in the bight portions 32 for the purpose of receiving the springs E, to be specifically described hereinafter.

The clamps 29, are substantially U-shaped in formation, and altogether similar to the clamps 28. The legs 36 and 37 of each of the clamps 29, are, however, shorter than the legs of the clamps 28. The legs 36 and 37 of each clamp 29 are connected integrally by bight portion 38, and spaced the same distance as the legs 30 and 31, of the clamps28. The bottom surface of the pocket or recess 39, provided by the clamp 29, is rounded, to accommodate the rounded edges 18 of the splice plate slots 15 and 16. Spring retaining projections 10 are provided upon the bight portions 38 of each of the clamps 29, extending oppositely thereon from the legs of these clamps, and adapted for the purpose of receiving and retaining the springs E, to be subsequently set forth. I

The springs E are preferably of the spiral type, and adapted for use under compression, between a clamp 28 and a clamp 29,

of which two are provided for a rail joint, engaging a spring projection 35, and a spring projection of the clamps 28 and 29 respectively.

In assemblying, the rails A and B are of course positioned to form a trackway in the ordinary manner. When so positioned, the slots 13 of the rails A and B will be spaced a predetermined distance from each other, for cooperation with the splice plates 0. The splice plates C are next positioned upon opposite sides of the webs 12 of the rails A and B, and in such relation that the slots 15 and 16 of the splice plates 0 are in alignment with each other, and with the slots 13 of the rails A and B. The clamps 28 and 29 are next positioned in the manner above set forth, namely, with clamps 28 adjacent the rounded edges 17 of the slots 15 and 16, and the clamps 29 intermediate the clamps 28. Both sets of clamps 28 and 29 are positioned through the slots 15 and 16, with the portions 32 and 38 extending througlfthe slots in the splice plates and webs, and having the 31 of the clamps 28, andlegs 36 and 37 of clamps 29 lying eXteriorly upon the outer surfaces 20 of the splice plates C.

Inarranging the clamps D, a clamp 28 and a clamp 29 are provided for each slot 15 and 16 of the splice plates G. The spring retainingprojections 35 and 10 of the clamps 28 and 29 extend in axial alignment within the slots 13 of the rails Aand B, and in this position are adapted to receive the springs E under powerful compression, whereby the bight portions 32 and 38 of the clamps 28 and 29 are forced into firm engagement with opposite ends of the slots in the rail webs 12, and the slots 15 and 16 of the splice plates C. In their assembled positions, the clamps 28 have their legs 30 and 31 resting upon the guiding surfaces 2A of the projecting lugs 21 and 22; the legs 36 and 37 of the intermediate clamps 29 resting upon the intermediate lugs 23 on the splice plates C From the foregoing, it can be seen that the springs E being under powerful compression, will force the clamps D into engagement with the extreme end surfaces 15 and 46 of the slots 13, in rails A and B, and thus maintain the rails A and B in a predetermined relation with respect to each other; .By reason of the resiliency of the springs E, expansion and contraction of the rails A and B is provided for under all con ditions. Thus the flexible rail joint structure will solve a problem heretofore experienced in extreme temperatures where expansion in the rails A and B becomes a serious problem. As now provided in standard practice, the American Society of Civil Engineers provide the splice plates for a rail joint connection having elliptical holes therein for receiving the cross bolts for clamping them to the'web of a rail, and in addition provide a considerable space, namely, one eighth of an inch between the facing ends of the rails A and B. The above described flexible rail joint, by reason of its nature in itself provides for expansion and contraction in the rails A and B.

If there is a tendency of the rails A and B to pull apart, the end surfaces of the slots 13 in webs 12, will engage the inner surfaces of the pockets 39, and force the clamps 29 apart to further compress the springs E. However, due to powerful compression of the springs E, the rails A will be kept in alignment. Very little wear will result upon any portion of the improved rail joint structure, and thesame may be maintained for an indefinite length of time, without attention.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be made in the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim: 1 1. In a device of the above described class, the combination of rails, disposition over the facing ends of said rails, and resilient means connecting said splice plates to said rails to permit longitudinal movement of said rails with respect to each other.

splice plates for 2. In a device of the above described class, I

the combinations Of rails, splice plates,

clamps for connecting said splice plates to said rails, and spring means engaging said clamps for yieldably maintaining said rails for longitudinal expansion and contraction.

3. In a device of the above described class, the combination with a pair of rails having longitudinal slots in the web portion thereof, and spring means for engaging through said slots for connecting said rails together for flexible movement with respect to each other.

4. In a device of the above described class, the combination of rails having slots in the web portion thereof, splice plates having slots therein for alignment with the slots in said rail webs, clamps through slots in said splice plates and said rail webs, and

spring means engaging said clamps for maintaining the rails in longitudinal alignment. c

5. In a device of the above described class, the combination of rail members having longitudinal slots in the Web portions thereof, a pair of splice plates for disposition upon the sides of said web, said splice plates having a pair of slots therein for alignment with the slots in said rail webs, a pair of clamps engaging through aligning slots in the splice plates and rail webs, and spring means for engaging said clamps to maintain said rail members in longitudinal alignment.

JESSE A. LEWIS. LESLIE L. REW. 

